SPEAK OUT

It's a republic

THE LACK of intelligence in Southeast Missouri is reaching an all-time high. In response to the caller who was talking about majority rules, this country was not founded on democracy and majority rule or mob rule. This country was founded on a rule of law. It is a republic, not a democracy. The rule of law is supreme to mob rule.

Police suggestions

ABOUT THE $40,000 they spent on the police survey: Did they ever consider instead of spending that much money maybe getting some of these criminal justice and psychology majors from the university and have them act as a mediator? Instead of getting a new chief of police from this area, maybe they should get one from farther away. They should think about letting the police officers have a place to go to express their feelings to someone who has nothing to do with law enforcement. I think that would help the police officers in this town a lot, because they feel trapped and don't have anybody to talk to.

Leave them alone

I JUST heard on the radio that Laura Bush wants the press to leave her daughters alone. Please tell her to contact the Limbaugh brothers and tell them to leave Chelsea Clinton alone. She had nothing to do with her parents' problems, but they still sometimes have to drag her into it.

Dialing while driving

FOR THOSE of you who don't think car phones are dangerous, try dialing a phone number while you're driving. You have to take your eyes off the road to do it.

Unfair library dues

SO THE Southeast Missourian finally admits how unfair the Cape Girardeau Public Library boundaries are for some of the citizens. I'm one who pays $24 yearly to use the library, and I live in the city limits. I resent it very much.

Flood victim's lament

I THINK I've heard just about everything now. During the recent flooding, we called the city to ask about getting a Dumpster or a special trash pickup. We could get a special pickup, but not for several days. So I told the lady that I'd go ahead and put it out by the curb for them to pick up. We had wet carpeting and stuff that we had to tear out of the basement. She informed me that we could not put out this wet carpet, rolled up in our own yard, until the night before the pickup. Otherwise we could get some kind of nuisance abatement citation or something like that. I don't understand this. We have a flood, and they can't cut us a little slack. I think this is a little bit ridiculous.

Fix these potholes

SOMEONE NEEDS to fix that tremendously huge pothole at the entrance to Fazoli's. It's terrible and needs to be patched. Someone's going to do a lot of damage to his vehicle just trying to avoid it. There's another pothole on Edgewood off William that needs to be fixed as well. Please, get these fixed.

Thanks for refund

THANKS TO George Bush I received my tax refund today. I am not wealthy. I'm a widow, and just paid income tax on my adjusted income of $11,500. Not only will the wealthy receive some of their money back, but even us little guys. Thanks again, Mr. President.

Looking for ecstasy

ONE OF my friends had a house raided because he had records in his house because he is a DJ-raver. The cops were looking for ecstasy in particular. The kids that do ecstasy are more than likely going to be the frat boys and the kids who have more money. I'm a raver myself, and my friends couldn't care less about ecstasy. If you want to find ecstasy and where it's coming from in Cape Girardeau, check all the frat parties. Bust into one of those and see how many kids you see with their pupils dilated.

Unhappy neighbors

JUST READING about the church controversy reiterates why I don't go to church. They are businesses. I don't understand why a church would want to move into a neighborhood where so many people are unhappy or against it.

Put benches back

I'M CALLING about the riverfront benches. They weren't put back after the river went down. Some of us come down to see the mighty Mississippi. We have to stand. Is this the City of Roses?